Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake — Page 2

#26

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:04pm

Why do you think that high "premium" ticket prices are going to make any difference to the average theater goer? Grey Gardens has seats that cost well over $200, but I've still seen it twice for less than $100 total. Even Pirate Queen had "premium" seats.

If YF gets raves and sells well the production will make a mint on those premium seats instead of scalpers. If things don't go so well then premium seats will be "on sale" at 50% off or even at regular price.

This is just basic marketing, starting off with a high price that you can give deals on if needed.

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"I have got to have some professional music!" - Big Edie

#27

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:09pm

The title of the show and the Brooks history with the Producers will appeal to modern America.

"Hey, that guy wrote the Producers and that was a hit."
"You're right, let's see it!"

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#28

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:12pm

I agree that the title would attract even to people who haven't seen the movie.

They'll quickly pass up "Gray Gardens" or "Xanadu"

#29

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:15pm

I agree, and I don't think YF will be anywhere near the success of The Producers. I'll be there no matter what. I totally adore Sutton Foster. I'd love to see Megan Mullaly (sp?) as well, and I like Mel Brook's humor, but then that's just me.
We'll soon see. Give it a few weeks after July 15 (1st day of sale) and wait it out for discounts.

#30

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:26pm

"Young Frankenstein" is a much bigger title than "The Producers".

The original "Producers" film was a flop that became a cult favorite. "Young Frankenstein" was a HUGE hit movie.

#31

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:31pm

I agree with Jon. YF was one of his biggest successes on film. THe baby boomers (the majority of ticket buys/subscription holders) are the target audience. Just the title will have them showing up in droves. I don't think they will have a problem keeping the show open. I, for one, am dying to see it. Just like I was for The Producers.

#32

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 7:42pm

I just watched the movie and found it very funny...

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"I never had theatre producers run after me. Some people want to make more Broadway shows out of movies. But Elliot and I aren't going to do Batman: The Musical." - Julie Taymor 1999

#33

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:12pm

To those who think this will automatically be a wild success because of the talent associated with it and the pedigree of the film, I have only one word, folks.

Footloose.

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http://docandraider.com

#34

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:34pm

Brooks is also avoiding casting huge names in the show because of what happened with THE PRODUCERS.

Everyone wanted to see Nathan and Matthew and the ticket sales dropped considerably after they left. Only when they came back did sales pick up again.

By casting lesser known names, people will want to see the show for the show and not for the two leads. That way, no matter who you bring in, the show sells.

And the names in this show aren't exactly small.

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"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#35

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:34pm

The movie is a huge hit.

The show will do well.

It would do well even if there wasn't a "name" in the entire cast. The name "YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN" is big enough. People who aren't all that familiar with Broadway will know what YF is and buy a ticket to go see it.

The chances of this flopping are low...even if the show is bad. Which it probably won't be.

#36

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:38pm

To the person who mentioned Footloose

You do realize that Footloose ran for over 700 performances

Is a massive hit around the world

Had a very well received West End Run and is due back in London this year after its THIRD Smash hit UK tour

Was Tony Nominated and won a few awards in the UK and Europe to

etc etc etc

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Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

#37

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:39pm

ohhh dear did someone not get a call back?????????????

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Attend the tale of Bovine Boy His party threads we all enjoy But does he have Mad Cow Disease? He doesn't eat beef - but cows skating? - oh please!!! With cocoa!?! And lemonade!?! The heifer-mad poster of Broadway (World)

#38

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/28/07 at 11:49pm

Look at Spamalot, shows like this are built with a large fan base. As has been said before YF has a MUCH larger fan base than the producers ever did. So he is banking on the name of the movie to sell tickets.

Will I pay 500 for a ticket? No way but there is a reason for it.

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"Judy Garland, Jimmy Dean, You tragedy Queen" ~ Taboo

"Watching a frat boy realize just what he put his d!ck in...ex's getting std's...schadenfruede" ~ Ave Q

"when dangers near, exploit their fear" ~ Reefer Madness the Musical

#39

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:11am

Slightly off topic, I wouldn't say that The Producers movie was a flop, it did win Mel Brooks his Oscar.

#40

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:24am

Am I the only one who, when I first looked over this, thought it was about Frank in Merrily We Roll Along? In the original production, one actor played 40 year old Franklin Shepard in one scene and another played him in the rest of the show... so I thought that was "Young Frank".

I guess it's also because I usually see things related to Merrily and "mistake" in the same thread...

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SondheimGeek: Is it slightly pathetic that you guys get to be Jedi bitches, and I'm Bitchy the Hutt?
LizzieCurry: No, you're more memorable

#41

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:13am

I wanna hear the demos, where did you get them?

#42

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:20am

"Brooks is also avoiding casting huge names in the show because of what happened with THE PRODUCERS.

Everyone wanted to see Nathan and Matthew and the ticket sales dropped considerably after they left. Only when they came back did sales pick up again.

By casting lesser known names, people will want to see the show for the show and not for the two leads. That way, no matter who you bring in, the show sells."


I think this is the cure for Broadway. Shows shouldn't have to have big names they should be good because the material is good.

#43

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 7:13am

>> You do realize that Footloose ran for over 700 performances

Is a massive hit around the world

Had a very well received West End Run and is due back in London this year after its THIRD Smash hit UK tour

Was Tony Nominated and won a few awards in the UK and Europe to

etc etc etc

And is also one of the *worst* stage adaptations of a hit film ever mounted.

Your point?

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http://docandraider.com

#44

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 9:19am

I don't think YF is gonna flop for the simple fact that the fanbase for the movie is HUGE and with Mel Brooks' name added, it' sure to attract tons of people. Tourists will come just because of the name recognition, and theatre people will come because the cast is outstanding.

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"You drank a charm to kill John Proctor's wife! You drank a charm to kill Goody Proctor!" - Betty Parris to Abigail Williams in Arthur Miller's The Crucible

Updated On: 6/29/07 at 09:19 AM

#45

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 9:32am

sean nmartin erm my point is that the name obviously sold that show

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Namo i love u but we get it already....you don't like Madonna

#46

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 9:36am

I'm sorry folks, I'm still in a daze from the comment that the show's going to flop - regardless of everyone's reasoning as to why it won't flop, the simple fact is - THE SHOW HASN'T HAD OPENED YET!! To even suggest the show will fail is as everyone else has said PURE speculation and perhaps to the point of having a hidden agenda. No matter what happens, I wish YF the best.

#47

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 12:52pm

I'd like to echo basically everyone else's thought by saying let the show open first or to hear/see about ticket sales first before making judgements.

Besides, again like alot of people said, Young Frankenstein has a bigger fan following than The Producers did and it's going to be name dependent for it's sales unlike The Producers that was basically cast dependent with Lane and Broderick.

#48

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:03pm

There's no way it's going to flop but there is going to be bad blood and hard feelings when families or regular tri-state area people gather in the box office and find out the prices. The "affordable" seats up in nose bleed territory are going to go fast and quick and probably be sold at least a year. Plus there is no standing room and if there were, I'm sure old Mel would charge $50 at least, for the honor of standing.

#49

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 1:08pm

Amoni's right. It is not going to flop, just ruffle some feathers.

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"I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not."-Sunday in the Park with George

#50

re: Young Frank- Mel's Big Mistake

Posted: 6/29/07 at 2:17pm

Flop or not flop- that is the issue with EVERY Brodway show. There is NO such thing as a sure thing. HOWEVER-- if I had money to invest (and Mel was accepting investors) THIS is the show I'd invest in:

1) Solid track record of Producer/composer/Writer/Director. The last show by this team made mountains of money.

2) Young Frankenstein has a built in following-- a movie MUCH more popular than Producers or Holy Grail.

3) The cast has won more Tony Awards than Hal Prince combined. Or something like that. You can dismiss whoever you want, but there are a LOT of people who would pay to see this cast in anything.

And yes, there will be haters who want it to fail. But that is just another sign that this show is going to be a monster (pun intended).